Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Field research—in the stable

Concurrent with advent and our Christmas
preparations, we are also preparing for our next trip to Bolivia in just under
two weeks. While there we will gather our Bolivian research team for a two-day seminar
on methodology, all part of the project to investigate and write the history of
the Bolivian Friends Church.

I get to bring some of the
devotionals for that seminar and I’m actively looking for significant biblical
passages and examples. One dropped into my lap Sunday morning as Andy Henry
preached from the Luke 2 story of the shepherds at the manger. While this wasn’t
exactly Andy’s focus, I suddenly saw the shepherds in a new light—that of
active investigators.

The insight is new, but the
passage is familiar:

8 And
there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But
the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will
cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of
David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This
will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.”

13 Suddenly
a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth
peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the
angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has
told us about.”

16 So they
hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the
manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Do you see it?

--The shepherds didn’t start their
investigation from scratch. They had a word from the Lord, via the angels who
gave them some key clues as to what this was all about. They had a commission
to check it out. God provided the foundation and starting point for their
research. This was their living oral “literature review.”

--“They hurried” off.” This
was clearly a research team, the subject being too big for one witness alone.

--“They hurried off.” They
went. They became involved. They got up off their haunches and did something. They
actively sought the reality of the angels’ proclamation.

--They went to the manger, the
actual place where the event was taking place. Geography and context are
important to research.

--They saw him for themselves.
They sought the sign and witnessed its reality in person. Although they left
their literal fields for the manger, is not this field research in the deepest
sense of the term?

--They responded to what they saw
and the interpretation of the event the angels provided. They “spread the word.”
They published their history so that others could share in the amazement and
know the transforming truth. (This is the unwritten part of the story that
comes next.)

I pray that this perspective might
encourage and enliven those of us involved in this huge research project set in
the Bolivian Andes. It’s a place where modern day shepherds watch over
their llamas and sheep. And where, I suspect, angels still serenade them.